Basics of Sanitary Sewer Design

November 2016

PIPE LAYOUT AND DESIGN:

 Sanitary Sewer Pipe Materials:
o Up to 15-inch – PVC, ASTM 3034, SDR 35
o Larger pipes, thicker pipe walls – ASTM F679
o Force Main DIP, PVC 900, or HDPE if Jurisdiction allows
o LEED – Use HDPE if Jurisdiction Allows it

 Sanitary Sewer Minimum Pipe Diameters:

o 8-inch typically for mains
o 6-inch for side sewers.
o Upsize the above as needed to accommodate flows out of buildings.

 Sanitary Sewer Slopes:

o Set slopes to maintain a 2 fps cleaning velocity. Preferable 3 fps
o 8-inch main min slope 0.4% has 2 fps. Use 0.5% minimum
o Slopes > 100% ----> velocity > 15 fps
o Steep slopes will require restrain joints + anchoring pipe to ground.
o Side Sewer min 1%, preferred 2% (Seattle requires indemnification agreement if <
2%)
o Plumbing usually requires 2% within building

 Sanitary Sewer Pipe Depth of Cover:

o 5-foot minimum for Mains
o 5-foot side sewer @ curb, 2.5-foot @ Prop. Line; min 1.5-foot on private property
o Less than above may be allowed if embedded in CDF or use rigid pipe
o Side sewer invert needs to be 1-foot above main’s crown @ Property Line
o Other Jurisdictions require 5-foot at Property Line

 Sanitary Sewer Clearance with Other Utilities:

o 10-foot between (CIP) Water & Sanitary, or 5-foot if Water is DIP
o Water shall cross over sanitary sewer 18-inch vertical clearance
o If sanitary over Water, Both Pipes DIP, 5-foot minimum from center of pipes.

 Side Sewer Connection to Existing Mains:

o Core Tap into existing mains (Seattle)
o Side sewer diameter 1 size smaller than the main (8-inch main, 6-inch sss)
o Core Drill into SSMH – Verify with Jurisdiction

 Sanitary Sewer Pipe Joint Deflection:

o Maximum 5o per manufacturer

BASICS OF SANITARY SEWER DESIGN 1

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o Do not design for more than 3
o Obtain approval for deflection from Jurisdiction

 Sanitary Sewer Bedding and Backfill:

o Select Material typically 4”-6” bedding for uniform support for entire pipe length.
o Hunching to spring line for lateral support
o Select material backfill above pipe typically 6” for cover and support.
o Backfill above for structural support.

 Miscellaneous Sanitary Sewer Basic Design Elements

o Install downstream to upstream, bells on upstream end
o Check local jurisdictions for reuse of existing side sewers—Relining may be allowed
o Slopes and pipe inverts shown only on profiles, unless Jurisdiction also requires on
plans as well

SANITARY SEWER MANHOLES LAYOUT AND DESIGN:

 Manhole Location and Sizing

o Max 400’ apart for mains 18-inch diameter of smaller
o Max 500’ apart for mains larger than 18-inch diameter
o Verify with Jurisdiction their distances may be less due to maintenance equipment.
o Maintain minimum 6-inch interior manhole separation between pipe cutouts.

 Manhole Channels
o Promote flow, minimize turbulence, and reduce accumulation of solids
o Precast or cast-in-place by hand
o Shape and slope with smooth transition between inlet and outlet
o Channel height to spring line or higher
o Slope bench to channel, away from manhole walls.

 Manhole Miscellaneous
o Manholes use cone sections not flat top sections.
o Connect shallow mains into deep manholes with drop inside/outside connections
with Jurisdiction approval
o Manholes deeper than 20 feet, require safety platforms
o Smaller pipe to larger pipe connection, match 0.8 depth lines
o Watertight connection to new manholes with Core-n-seal sleeves or sand collars

SANITARY SEWER CLEANOUT LAYOUT AND DESIGN:

 Cleanout Locations
o Verify specific location with Jurisdiction
o 5-foot outside building, coordinate with Plumbing designer
o Every 100 feet or as allowed/required by Jurisdiction
o At total change of 90o in grade or alignment

 Cleanout Covers
o Verify specific requirements with Jurisdiction
o Typically Cast Iron (Co or Sewer label) and frame cast in concrete collars

BASICS OF SANITARY SEWER DESIGN 2

 Sanitary Sewer Useful References
o Check with Local Jurisdictions before beginning design
o City of Seattle DPD Director’s Rule 4-2011
o Seattle Public Utilities Core Tap Procedures
o Department of Ecology Criteria for Sewage Works Design (aka “the Orange Book”)

USEFUL REMINDERS
 Don’t assume the cities where your project is located in is also the Sanitary Sewer (or
other utility) purveyor.
 Review the sewer district’s standards for SS systems and materials accepted/required.
 Obtain from the sewer district the drawings and AutoCAD Standards before starting your
designs.
 Some districts provide title blocks, and guidance for drawings preparation and/or
examples of drawings the district has approved.
 Understand As-built/Record drawings requirements from the sewer district.

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